Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between immunohistochemical expression of topoisomerase IIa, HER2 and hormonal receptors and response to primary anthracyclin-based chemotherapy in invasive breast carcinoma. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 109 medical charts of patients treated with primary anthracyclin-based chemotherapy in Women?s Integral Health Care Center of State University of Campinas from 1996 to 2004. The clinical and pathological response to primary chemotherapy was associated with overexpression of topoisomerase IIa and HER2 and hormonal receptor negativity. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square or Fisher?s Exact Test. Results: The frequency of topoisomerase II? overexpression was 41%. No statistical association between clinical response and overexpression of topoisomerase II?, HER2 and hormonal receptor negativity was found. However, there was an association between complete pathological response and hormonal receptor negativity (p=0.0289). Conclusions: The present study suggested that these markers should not be considered predictors of response to primary anthracyclin-based chemotherapy, and prospective studies must be designed for this purpose